David Thompson

David Thompson’s exploits in Canadian history are unmatched by any other. Arguably, the greatest land geographer of all time, David Thompson is truly a figure of continental significance. Between 1784 and 1850, Thompson explored and mapped 3.9 million square kilometres (approximately 1.5 million square miles) of North America.

David Thompson is also important for his character. Thompson was a truly multi-cultural Canadian. He lived among, was respected by and was fluent in the languages of English, French and those of our Native peoples. David Thompson is also a symbol of inter-cultural cooperation having formed close and enduring family ties with cultures close to the landscape. These ties made trade the foundation of exploration and development of Canada. The legacies of Thompson's work and travels include the creation of the first reliable map of the west; the positioning of the USA/Canada border in many areas; pivotal relationships between Europeans and First Nations peoples; and a profound influence on the understanding of Canada's past.

David Thompson links:

• David Thompson Heritage Stage Show
• The Life of David Thompson
• North American David Thompson Bicentennials
• The 2008 David Thompson Brigade
• Wikipedia David Thompson page